Carnival ride



June 15, 1965 F. K. BEIRER, JR

CARNIVAL RIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1962 Ary'mewers.

June 15, 1965 F. K. BEIRER, JR

CARNIVAL RIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1962 liilllll F/GZ Arrozflers.

United States Patent 3,189,343 CARNIVAL RIDE Friedrich K. Beirer, Jin, Munich, Germany, assignor to Carl J. Sedlmayr, Jr, Tampa, Fla. Filed Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,356 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-46) This invention relates to a carnival ride, and more partioularly to the operating mechanism for an amusement device of the type carrying passenger seats to which movement is imparted in a variety of patterns (for the entertainment and amusement of theriders.

A primary object of this invention consists in the provision of such a carnival ride characterized by a plurality of seats rotatable about a central axis, together with means for imparting vertical movement to the seats, and at the same time imparting an additional rotary movement about an axis independent of the first axis.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an amusement device of this character wherein the seats are subjected to three separate and distinct movements simultaneously, the movements following a predetermined but irregular or eccentric pattern.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein any one of the three movements of the device may be imparted thereto independently of the others, so that in a particular carnival ride patterns of either a single movement, a double movement or triple movement may be utilized.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view partially schematic, certain concealed portions thereof being indicated in dotted lines, of one form of carnival ride embodying features of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View of the structure of FIGURE 2, parts thereof being broken away, and additional parts being sectioned; and

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational View, taken substantially along the line 4-4 Olf FIGURE 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, the

t carnival ride of the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and comprises a riding cone 11 which is equipped with a plurality of bucket seats 12 extending about the periphery thereof, and which is mounted for rotation on a central post or axle 13. The axle 13 is mounted on a relatively heavy steel boom 14, which is pivoted at one end as on a pivot 15 and free at its other or inner end 16, support members .17 being provided to limit the downward movement of the end 16.

Movement about pivot pin 15 is effected by means of a hydraulic cylinder 18 which contains a piston 19 which is pivotally mounted as on a pivot 20 to an intermediate point of the boom 14. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 18 through a tube 21, from any desired conventional source, such as a pump 22. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the boom .14 comprises a generally rectangu lar frame including diverging legs 14a which extend from an end member 14b which carries both the axle 13 and the supporting legs 17. The opposite end of boom 3,l89,3i3 Patented June 15, 1965 14 is bridged by a support 25, adjacent the outer periphery of the ride.

Rotative movement of the ride about axle 13 is effected by means of electric motors 26 which carry pulleys 27 on their drive shafts 28, the pulleys 27 driving through belts 28a, pulley-s 29, which through axlles 30 drive rubber tired wheels 31 upon which the bottom rim 32 of cone 1 1 seats. It is thus apparent that the entire ride cone is driven in a circular path by the pneumatic rubber tired wheels 31.

Still another motion is imparted to the ride by means of a turntable base 3 5 which is mounted on an axle 36. The axle 36 is concentric with a main gear 37 mounted on a primary steel base 40. 'Rotative movement is imparted to the turnstile base 35 by means of an electric motor 41 carried by a suitable support 42 and having a drive shaft 43 which through a pulley 44 drives a belt 45. Belt 45 in turn drives a pulley 46 mounted on a shaft 47 to which is keyed or otherwise secured a gear 48.

Gear 48 engages a gear 49 on a shaft 50 which carries a gear 51 engageable with main gear 37 to eifect a reduction in speed, so that the entire assembly rotates about the main axle 36.

It is to be noted that the motors 26 as well as their associated pulleys and drive tires 31 are mounted on extensions 15a carried at the end of main pivot 15, so that pivoting of the frame 14 by hydraulic cylinder 18 and its associated piston 19 does not eifect the engagement of the tires 31 with the rim 32. -It should also be pointed out that the lower end of cylinder 18 is pivotally mounted as at 18:: in order to permit arcuate movement of the frame 14.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a carnival ride or amusement arrangement which imparts to the passengers carried by the seats 12 an eccentric rotary movement by the rubber tires 31 relative to a second rotary movement imparted by the previously described gearing about axle 36 as well as movement in a vertical arc occasioned by piston rod 19. The combination of movement is such as to provide an entertaining and attractive ride of the relatively high amusement value which appeals to the user-s of such devices.

It is to be understood that any of the movements may be discontinued and the other or others retained, since the motors 26 and 41 may be independently actuated as may the hydraulic lift cylinder 18.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved carnival ride which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A carnival ride comprised of a main base, a turntable rotatably mounted on said base means for rotating said turntable including a first motor means, a frame carried at one end by said turntable and pivotally mounted thereon at a peripheral point, a riding cone carrying passenger seats mounted for rotation on the other end of said frame, second motor means including pneumatic tires engaging the rim of said riding cone for rotating said riding cone independently of the rotation on: said turntable and about an axis offset relative to the axis of rotation of said turntable, and lift means for pivoting said frame and hence said cone in a vertical are about the pivotal connection of said frame to said turntable.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first and sec- 0nd motor means comprise electric motors and said lift means comprise a hydraulic cylinder pivoted at its end to said turntable and having a piston pivoted at its end to said frame.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said means for rotating said turntable includes reduction gearing and said first electric motor means is mounted on said turntable.

4. A carnival ride comprised of a main base, a turnable rotatably mounted on said base, means for rotating said turntable including a first motor means, a frame carried at one end by said turntable and pivotaily mounted thereon at a peripheral point, a riding cone carrying passenger seats mounted for rotation on the other end of said frame, second motor means including frictional driving means engaging the rim of said riding cone for rotating said riding cone independently of the rotation 4:1 of said turntable and about an axis offset relative to the axis of rotation of said turntable, and lift means for pivoting said frame and hence said cone in a vertical are about the pivotal connection of said frame to said turntable.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,799,409 4/31 Custer 27237 2,259,691 10/41 Harris 27237 FOREIGN PATENTS 211,668 2/ 24 Great Britain.

r RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner. 

4. A CARNIVAL RIDE COMPRISED OF A MAIN BASE, A TURNABLE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID TURNTABLE INCLUDING A FIRST MOTOR MEANS, A FRAME CARRIED AT ONE END BY SAID TURNTABLE AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREON AT A PERIPHERAL POINT, A RIDING CONE CARRYING PASSENGER SEATS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON THE OTHER END OF SAID FRAME, SECOND MOTOR MEANS INCLUDING FRICTIONAL DRIVING MEANS ENGAGING THE RIM OF SAID RIDING CONE FOR ROTATING SAID RIDING CONE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE ROTATION OF SAID TURNTABLE AND ABOUT AN AXIS OFFSET RELATIVE TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID TURNTABLE, AND LIFT MEANS FOR PIVOTING SAID FRAME AND HENCE SAID CONE IN A VERTICAL ARC ABOUT THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID FRAME TO SAID TURNTABLE. 